Menstruation, also commonly referred to as periods, occurs when the vaginal tissue walls start bleeding due to a woman’s monthly cycle. The way this cycle works is that the ovaries release eggs made by hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. These hormones also make the lining of the uterus wall soft and spongy. This happens so that if the egg gets fertilized by a sperm cell it can attach to the uterus wall to facilitate pregnancy.

In case fertilization doesn’t happen, the body does not require the lining on the uterus wall; hence, the body sheds it through the vagina. This lining mainly comprises blood, nutrients, and tissue among other things.

The exact age that menstruation first occurs cannot be determined. Although, the usual age that it happens is between the ages of 12 to 14. Menstruation continues to happen on a monthly basis, until the average ages of 45 to 55, which is called menopause. Menopause can be simply explained as the inability to get pregnant.

Symptoms
Other than the usual vaginal bleeding, a woman going through menstruation may experience the following symptoms:

• Severe pain and cramps in the pelvic area
• Severe pain the lower back
• Sore breasts
• Unusual food cravings
• Irritability
• Fatigue

The symptoms that occur one or two weeks prior to the period are called premenstrual syndrome symptoms, or PMS symptoms. These include:

• Swelling up of breasts
• Weight gain
• Acne
• Joint pain
• Crying spells and mood swings

Even though it is unclear what causes PMS symptoms, it is known that the symptoms are triggered by changes in hormone secretion.

Remedies
Menstruation can’t be considered as a disease. Having periods is a completely natural process that every woman has to go through in her life. Although, the fact that can’t be changed is that menstruation is an utterly painful experience. Here are some home remedies that can make the process of menstruation bearable:

• Applying heat
  Applying a hot water bottle or a heating pad to the affected area as a simple home remedy can be effective when managing pain in the lower back or abdominal area.

• Massaging
  According to studies, a massage with essential oils for 20 minutes can help make the pain caused due to endometriosis a little easier to bear. These essential oils, including lavender and marjoram oil, among many others, diluted with carrier oils like coconut oil and the like can reduce pain caused by menstruation.

• Drinking water
  One should avoid getting dehydrated to make sure they do not suffer from bloating and also to ease abdominal cramps. Additionally, food items with high water content should be consumed.

• Exercise
  While refraining from high physical exertion, adopting mild exercise like yoga can improve hormonal balance. Research states practicing yoga for 30-40 minutes with poses such as cobra, cat, and fish can help in reducing menstrual pain significantly.